The area between three magnificent national treasures, Yosemite National Park to the north and Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks the east and south lies a vast area rich in history and natural resources. The 1.3 million acre Sierra National Forest and the northern section of Sequoia National Forest defines the Central Sierra Historical Society’s area of interest. The federal government is the major landowner, however, there are many areas of private land and small communities within the forest boundaries. The geographic center of California is located in the Sierra National Forest a mile and a half north of Redinger Lake on the San Joaquin River.
The National Forests are an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture. The Forest Service is responsible for land management in 156 National Forests. Unlike the National Parks, the National Forest lands provide renewable benefits to the public such as irrigation, water, timber, hydroelectric power, livestock grazing, firewood cutting, recreation and wildlife habit. These resources benefit the economy of California and indeed the Nation. The eight major lakes within the Sierra National Forest are all man made reservoirs, constructed primarily for hydroelectric power generation by private industry, but serve secondary purposes for flood control, irrigation and recreation. Two major reservoirs on the San Joaquin Valley floor built by the federal government, Millerton Lake and Pine Flat Reservoir impound water from the Central Sierra Nevada watershed for flood control and irrigation water releases.
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